South Sudan and Sudan Finally Settle Oil Dispute

Sudan and South Sudan have finally struck a deal on how to share their oil wealth.

Reports say the parties have agreed on all of the financial arrangements regarding oil.

The two countries were given August 2 deadline by the United Nations to solve disputes from border security to oil payments.

The two countries are set to meet next month to find a compromise on the disputed region of Abyei as well.

At DC today, US Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton today says the US government welcomes the agreement on oil reached between the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan.

South Sudan’s presidential guard on Independence Day, 2011.

“This agreement reflects leadership and a new spirit of compromise on both sides.” -Ms. Clinton

The United States commends the courage of the Republic of South Sudan’s leadership in taking the decision.

“As I said in Juba yesterday, the interests of their people were at stake.” -Ms. Clinton

The oil impasse has lasted more than six months. Now was the time to bring this impasse to a close, for the good of the people of South Sudan and their aspirations for a better future in the face of ongoing challenges, Ms. Clinton stated.

South Sudan’s leaders have risen to the occasion, she added.

Ms. Clinton says the leaders tabled a bold comprehensive proposal at this latest round of talks, and an agreement was hammered out with the strong assistance of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel for Sudan (AUHIP).

“The future of South Sudan is now brighter.” -Ms. Clinton

Ms. Clinton says that for Sudan, the agreement offers a way out of the extreme economic stress it is now experiencing.

She stresses that the Government of Sudan deserves credit for taking this step.

If Sudan would now also take the steps to peace in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur, and if it will respect the rights of all citizens, it can likewise give its people a brighter future, Ms. Clinton cited.

“Finally, we are encouraged by the potential announcement of an agreement shortly on humanitarian access to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.” -Ms. Clnton

The US also urge immediate implementation of this urgently needed assistance, Ms. Clinton also underlined.

Earlier this June, Sudan and South Sudan have made significant progress to end hostilities.

The forces of South Sudan have completely pulled out of Abyei, that the forces of Khartoum, the SAF forces are also now out of Abyei.

In addition, South Sudan has recently completed withdrawal processes of its police forces from the disputed Abyei to comply with the United Nations Security Council resolution endorsing roadmap of the Africa Union Peace and Security Commission.

South Sudan reportedly complied with all aspects of resolution 2046, which calls on both sides to resume negotiations on post-partition issues and signed pact with three months.

The United States of America also welcomed the redeployment of all Republic of South Sudan Police Services out of the Abyei Area.

The US said the withdrawal of police forces in Abyei is an important step toward ending the border dispute with Sudan.

The United States has commended the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei for its strong support to this process.

The United States renewed call upon the Government of Sudan to honor its acceptance of UNSCR 2046 and the AUPSC communique, including by redeploying all of its armed forces from Abyei and by immediately ending aerial bombardments in South Sudan, which are a clear violation of Resolution 2046.

Amid the continous call from the United Nations and the United States to cease the hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan, violence and tensions continue to escalate in the region earlier this year.

South Sudan’s military was involved in the attack on and seizure of Heglig, home to Sudan’s largest remaining source of oil following the South’s secession.

Late of March this year, military clashes have erupted in the border region of Sudan and South Sudan.

Meanwhile, Sudan accused the southern army of attacking the oil-producing Heglig region wherein parts of which are claimed by both warring nations.

The military clashes prompted Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir to suspend plans to attend a meeting with his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir on 3 April.

In July 2011, South Sudan, Africa’s 54th nation was born. Millions of people celebrated a new national identity and new national promise. For more than two decades, Sudan has been riven by intense fighting over land and resources.

However, the security situation in the disputed area of Abyei remains fragile, with both South Sudan and Sudan failing to withdraw their armed forces as agreed under a demilitarization pact reached in June 2011.

South Sudan became independent from Sudan on 9 July. A referendum on the status of the Abyei area on the border was to have been held in January this year, but never took place amid disagreement on voter eligibility.

Dozens of people have been killed this year as a result of clashes in Abyei and surrounding areas and tens of thousands of have been forced to flee their homes.

Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain English. Mina Fabulous is the pen name of Carmen Avalino, the NewsBlaze production editor. When she isn’t preparing stories for NewsBlaze writers, she writes stories, but to separate her editing and writing identities, she uses the name given by her family and friends.